New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-30

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would not fight, and when the end of the chase
was seen to be at hand he ordered his men to
jump from the train as it gradually brought
to stop and scatter in the woods. Mr.. PittengeI
thinks the order to scatter fatal mistake
1t certainly was II the object was to secure the
prompt destruction Of the entire party, for it Is
impossible to suppose that any other result could
have followed an attempt to keep together and
to fight their way through hostile country
swarmng with troops But however this may be
they scattered. and after undergoing many suffer
ings AMI strange experiences all OF them fell
into the hands of the enemy. They were variously
treated some with comparative kindness, others
with ferocious brutality. One young hero was
logged cruelty TO make him betray his comrades
and his country, but he said no word. OF course
the raid had caused intense excitement through
the Confederacy The significance of it was
instantly appreciated. Had Andrews succeeded in
burning the bridges, and especially the great one
over the Tennessee the communications between
the rebel forces in Virginia and Mississippi would
have been severed, and supposng the Union
commanders quicker than at that juncturc those at
the front actually were, the defeat Of these forces
in detail would have been possible. The aud&city
Of the attempt was frankly conceded, An Atlanta
paper said: 1T was the deepest laid scheme, and
| on the grandest scale. that ever cmanatcd from
| the brains of any number of Yankees combined
But it's boldness only increased the bitterness OF
the average Southcrncrs toward the men VINO
had undertaken it. From the first they were
called THE engine thieves" and were treated as
spies. In strictly military view this was not
unwarrantable, for they had been taken i'll an
enemy's country without uniform on. But the
Confederate Government might nave assumed II
more magnanimous position, seeing that the at
/ oil sptNrn. l.psI hal
been captured.
While awaiting the decision OF the authorities
the prisoners were put in "Swim's JAIL an old
negro prison at Chattanooga. Here they were
thrust into veritable dungeon; lower story OF
the stone building without door or window, the
only access to which by tapdoor in the
floor of the chamber above. Two small holes high
up in the walls admitted just enough air to
prevent the suffocation Of those confined in tins
dreadful den. The room thirteen feet square,
and here twenty-five men were confined for weeks
day and night and never permitted to leave il
for moment. Mr. PittcnGcr gives a sketch show
ing how the prisoners slept at Swim's Jail
There was Just room for them to pack them
selves on the floor but they were obliged so to
dovctail their bodies that if any in row
wished to turn over the whole row had to turn
with him. All the prisoners were ironed, some
with heavy chains attached to handouts and
ankle letters Twice day the traIdoor was |
raised and an insufficient supply Of bad food |
WIS lowered swim, the jailor, was brute nnd |
would not give his charges enough water 10 drink |
This added greatly 10 their sutcrnGs and they |
were nearly poisoned by the foul air Of the place
Nevertheless nothing is more remarkable IN this |
history than the patience and courage with |
which these Northern soldiers bore their coniinc-
ment: nothing. perhaps. save the calm and quiet |
bravery with which those of them who were IL
die met their fate. Andrews was the first to b.
tried but the decision Of the court martial
withheld from him and he knew nothing more
until, without warning. copy Of his death
warrant was one day thrust into his hand The
prisoners had before this lccn discussing the
chances Of escape and il resolved 10 at
tempt it, as Andrew, was sentenced u be hanged in
twenty-four hours The plot only partly carried
out. Andrews and one other got out Of the Jail.
and though fired upon by the guard. succeeded in
GLIDING pursuit for the time. They were car turcd
later however and tie whole Of the party were
hurricdly removed 20 Atlanta in consequence OF
the Federal ad vance. There James j. Andrews was
executed, the inhumanity OF his captors extending
even 10 a refusal TO remove his heavy irons
before hanging him. soon after this seven Of the
party were court martialicd, and sentenced To
Incredible atrocity. Their doom only announced
10 them wien preparations had been made 10
consummate it. They were allowed no time for
preparation to write farcwclls TO their friends
They we're simply taken from their comrades
and in few minutes marched out and executed.
Even the Confederate people were shocked and
angorcd at the brutality and prcclitaucy Of the
deed, and the ministers who had been called 10
speak with the condemned men marked their
Indignation at the proceedings by refusing Il
appear at the place Of execution. The doomed men,
however, behaved admirably Not one OF them
ialtcred at the last They met shameful death
the scafiold coollv and molly they had
often faced an honorable death on the field of
battle and one Of them named Wilson, having
obtained leave to speak, made eloquent and
lofty address, in which, after Indignantly
pudialIng the Confederate charge that lac alI
bis comrades were spies. he predicted the collapse
tf the rebellion and declared that The lime " .uid |
not be long until the flag OF restored Ur',n
would cover the very ground then occupied by
the scai1od.
After the tragedy the posit:cn Of the surv. vors
was full of dreadful expo, taton They could |
anticipate nothing but fate similar TO that of
their comrades. set weeks passed and there came
no sign of further executions. In their agitation
and dependency they addressed a petition 10
jefferson Davis. 1t produced no effect, but when.
years aftrward, Mr.. Pittenger examined the rebel
archives for fresh light on the Andrews raid, hc
discovered evidence that the remaining prisoners
owed their survival in no way 10 the clcmcncy
Of the head Of the C0nfedcracy, and that probably
nothing saved them but q defect in the record
duo presumably to the miscarriage of papers in
transit. Presently a second escape planned
1t involved n general attack on the guard ana
after full deliberatiOn and arrangement il
carried out with striking though not complete
success. The majority OF the party actually got
away. and most Of them succeeded in escaping
rccaprurc and in making their ny into the Union